PSYC 101 Lecture 21: Drugs and Addiction

• School: UBC
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 101
• Professor: Steven Barnes, Grace Truong

Document Summary

Chems that infl consciousness or behaviour by altering the brain"s chem messenger system. Drug use: quest for an altered state of consciousness, a break from the norm. Psychoactive drugs can be used recreationally without becoming an addiction. Habitual drug use, despite adverse effects on health and social life. Compulsive thoughts and actions (drug seeking behaviour) directed getting and taking the drug of choice (cravings) V strong tendency to reinstate drug seeking behaviour (chronic relapsing disorder) Rats self administer cocaine over 30 days. 90% died before end of the study. Rats work for alcohol meth sugar caffeine opiates nicotine mdma, thc. Addicts take drugs to remove withdrawal symptoms. Use drugs for "self medication" incr prob of continued risk. Genetically infl strong vs weak reponses to alcohol. Neg resp to alcohol: flushing, nausea, heart palpitations. Tendency for larger drug doses to be req over time to achieve the same effect.